Australia Social Media Ban

Australia has expanded its upcoming nationwide social media ban for individuals aged 16 and under, adding Twitch to the list of restricted platforms. The policy—scheduled to take effect on 10 December 2025—will make Australia the first country in the world to implement such broad age-based limits on digital platforms.

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Updated List of Platforms Under the Ban

The expanded restriction now applies to platforms with real-time interaction, high engagement or livestream-based communication, which authorities say pose heightened online-safety risks to minors.

Platforms under the ban include:

• Twitch (newly added)
• Instagram
• TikTok
• Snapchat
• X (Twitter)
• Facebook
• Reddit
• Discord

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Social media companies must demonstrate reasonable steps to verify age and prevent access. Failure to comply could result in fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars, along with mandatory enforcement actions.

Notably, Pinterest has been excluded from the restricted list after regulators concluded that its content is lower-risk and less real-time interactive compared with high-engagement livestream or influencer platforms.

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Why Twitch Was Added

Officials highlighted Twitch’s live chat, real-time gaming content, monetisation mechanisms and influencer interactions as key factors for inclusion. Safety assessments pointed to concerns such as:

• Exposure to uncensored livestream interactions
• Online grooming and cyberbullying risks
• Gambling-style microtransactions and donations
• Unfiltered voice and text chat in live broadcasts

Authorities noted that interactive livestreaming platforms present greater safety challenges than traditional image-sharing platforms.

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📌 Exam-Oriented Facts

• Australia’s nationwide social media ban for ages 16 and under begins on 10 December 2025.
• Twitch has been added to the restricted platforms list.
• Non-compliant companies may face fines of AUD 49.5 million.
• Pinterest remains excluded after risk assessment.